All about the Vespa Wideframe
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The English scooterist and author Martin "Sticky" Round has put another stone in the Vespa's road history: On Saturday 15 February 2025, he presented the Italian translation of his book "The Complete Spanner's Manual - Vespa Wideframe Engines" to the public.
The venue was the noble workshop of Gaetani Francesco, known as "Vespaio". He takes special care of the very oldest Vespa models and is known for effortlessly restoring even dilapidated Vespa 98 models to perfection. His workshop is almost a clichéd dream: located in Tuscany, in old premises and equipped with numerous time-honoured tools needed for bodywork, paintwork and Vespa engine construction. In January 2025, at the "Engine Bike Expo" trade fair in Verona, he presented a historic racing Vespa made entirely from aluminium, which many consider to be a true masterpiece.
In good company
His and Sticky's invitation was accepted by a select audience. Not a mass event, not a big party. With the help of the Vespa Club "Can Sciolti" from Massa, a breakfast buffet was lovingly set up in the morning sun before the book authors gave their speeches. In addition to Sticky, who had travelled from England with his wife, Andrea Pinasco himself was also on stage. He had also brought two books with him: In one of them, he shows his beginnings in building up the Pinasco brand. Numerous advertising posters bring back memories of historic tuning parts. In a second book, he describes his personal life as a farmer over the past 25 years.
Among the guests were Piergiorgio Betella, who owns the Pinasco brand today, and Gabriele Cagni, whose CC Corsa products set standards in the wideframe scene on the engine side. Many expect a GS-150 Racing Cylinder from Gabriele in the foreseeable future, and he fulfilled these expectations by bringing along his own personal "Gi-Esse". Later that afternoon, the vehicle was unmistakably tested, and the test rider knew how to move the Vespa mainly with the front wheel in the air ..
FALC founder Lauro Caforio also made an appearance. After the lunchtime Aperitivo with freshly sliced salami, ham, bread and wine, all tension fell away. The guests exchanged ideas in peace until the end. As the sun began to set, the event was dismantled and tidied up, and everyone said their goodbyes.
SIP Scootershop would like to thank everyone involved for their invitation and hospitality, especially Gegio Innocente and his online Magazine "scooterismo.it", who hosted the event.
Arrivederci, alla prossima!
About the Book
In 1956, Piaggio had already produced 1 million Vespas. Each of them was a "Wideframe", so called because of the separate Suspension Arm from the Crankcase. This design scheme was maintained until the 1960s with the various versions of the GS150. In addition to the models produced in Italy, Piaggio maintained several licensed production facilities throughout Europe, each producing local versions of the Vespa.
Many of these scooters have survived, but are no longer in regular use. Very often because of known problems with the starting mechanism or because of poor, outdated performance.
This has now changed: With the Book "The Complete Spanner's Manual - Vespa Wideframe Engines" you can learn how to repair and upgrade these old Vespas so that they can once again ride on tarmac - their natural habitat.
The "Manuale d'Officina Completo Lambretta" has sold over 35,000 copies and has been updated in four editions, one of which is in Italian.
This is the first volume dedicated to the Vespa Wideframe 125 and 150 cc Engines and introduces the subject step by step.
In addition to the models produced by Piaggio, early ACMA, Hoffmann, Messerschmitt, MotoVespa, M.I.S.A. and even Russian Vjatka engines are also explained.
The Book took a good two years to compile, working with wideframe specialists of the calibre of Andreas Nagy (Nagy Tin Scooter), Zini (founder of Stoffi's Garage), Ralph Bollag(Bollag Motos), Gabriele Cagni (CC Corsa) and Matthew Philips (Douglas Part Finder). SIP Scootershop and Scooter Centre were also very helpful.
The Book is of course still available from us as an English edition.
